Uses data from national assessment programs to compare Scottish pupils' mathematics performance at primary stages P4 and P7 with French students' performance at stages CE2 and 6e. Discusses methodological issues, including comparability of samples, selection of common items, and curriculum coverage of items. Reports some findings on relative…

Discusses the interplay between assessment policies in Uruguay and state-society relations. Shows how national student evaluation has come to symbolize an agreed-on mechanism of social accountability by which the central government upholds its responsibility for educational provision as it intervenes on behalf of impoverished communities.…

In 655 schools in 27 states, the Literacy Collaborative aims to improve elementary students' literacy achievement. A trained literacy coordinator trains other teachers and provides in-class coaching. Systematic collection of data on every child and data utilization by all program participants support continuous school improvement and create a…

Describes the purpose, development, analysis, prototyping, and features of the Electronic Assessment and Storage Tool (EAST). The Web-based system aids curriculum assessment at Purdue School of Engineering and Technology at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis through the ability to easily store artifacts in electronic form, support…

Northwest Evaluation Association in Portland, Oregon, consults with state and local educators on assessment issues. Describes several approaches in place at school districts that are using some combination of computer-based tests to measure student growth. The computerized adaptive test adjusts items based on a student's answer in "real…

A study sought to ascertain the "official" conception of numeracy in Scotland as published in Her Majesty's Inspectorate (HMI) audit reports. 300 HMI reports on 300 primary schools were examined for references to computational proficiency and understanding of number. Segments signifying proficiency were significantly more numerous than…

Today's standardized tests are not the best way to evaluate schools or students. These tests do not evaluate what students have learned in school. There is a high likelihood that the specific content sampled by a standardized test may be seriously inconsistent with local curricula aspirations. Sidebars report on recommendations from the Commission…

This article examines legal issues involved in the assessment of educational results for students with disabilities, especially requirements under the 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. It suggests that policies regarding assessment of students with disabilities may have outpaced practices and legal interpretations…

Continuing medical education (CME) must demonstrate its effect on the quality of health care. Performance measurement methods, such as public report cards, are gaining strength. CME providers should link timing and content of their offerings with performance measures. (SK)

Summarizes sections of the Americans with Disabilities Act that have implications for educational measurement and discusses the implications for applied educational and occupational testing practices. Presents general guidelines for adapting tests to accommodate a range of disabilities. (SLD)

Examined outcomes on multiple-choice tests and performance-based assessments for 102 field-independent and field-dependent college students. Finds a substantial interaction between cognitive style and assessment approach. Results suggest that performance-based assessment tends to favor field-independent subjects. (SLD)

Describes four ways that principals can provide leadership to overcome several school culture barriers to accountability: Be a champion for standards; emphasize learning, not performance; educate the public; and protect the things that matter. (PKP)

Describes findings and recommendations of the first annual report of the Massachusetts Education Reform Review Commission, which focused on standards and assessments, accountability, district and teacher capacity, and funding. (PKP)

The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act requirement that states prepare and disseminate an annual state report card became effective at the beginning of the 2002-03 school year. Each state agency must also ensure that each local district collects appropriate data, both at the district level and for each school, and includes such data in its annual…

Although the application of the balanced scorecard (BSC) in the business sector is well documented, very little research has been reported regarding the adaptation or application of the BSC in the education sector. In this article, the authors (a) describe how the Baldrige Education Criteria for Performance Excellence has adapted the concept of…